Robbie Fowler has urged Declan Rice to join Manchester City if he wants to win major trophies.
City are understood to be interested in Rice, who looks set to leave West Ham this summer in search of Champions League football and the chance of silverware. The 24-year-old admitted during the World Cup that he was envious of England teammates doing exactly that.
Arsenal have long been considered frontrunners in the race to sign Rice, and reports suggest the midfielder would still prefer to join Mikel Arteta's side with the guarantee of regular football shaping his decision. The Gunners have had two bids rejected by West Ham but are expected to return with a third.
Whether City's interest develops into a formal offer remains to be seen, but Fowler believes there is only one destination for Rice if he truly wants to compete for the highest honours.
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"The one thing a player is guaranteed when they sign up for Pep Guardiola at the Etihad is a bag full of medals," Fowler wrote in his Sunday Mirror column. "Just ask the last midfielder who cost City £100 million. Since leaving Aston Villa two years ago, Jack Grealish has won the Champions League, two Premier League titles and the FA Cup. No wonder Jack felt like celebrating after City clinched the Treble!"
Despite interest growing in Manchester, Rice's preferred destination is still thought to be the Emirates. Arteta can almost guarantee the England international a place in his first team and sees him as a future captain.
City's midfield looks far harder to break into, with Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne both nailed on and Mateo Kovacic looking set to fill Ilkay Gundogan's boots.
"Rodri has become one of Guardiola’s most trusted players - and cemented his growing stature with the winning goal against Inter Milan in the Champions League final," Fowler added.
"The Spaniard played in 56 of City’s 61 games last season - more than any other player. Even for a coach like Guardiola who trusts his squad, Rodri has become indispensable. And the City boss has even turned [John] Stones into a centre-back capable of stepping effortlessly into central midfield in the blink of an eye.
"Losing Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona is a big blow, while there are suggestions that Bernardo Silva could also leave this summer. But City have reacted by signing Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for £25 million.
"So the question Rice must ask is whether he backs himself to break into a team where reputations and price tags count for absolutely nothing? Arsenal are a huge club with a storied history. But City are writing their own history at the moment."
